I have often used Romans 15:13 to bring encouragement to other believers. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Unfortunately, for many believers, waiting in faith is considered stressful. Believing God for something seems to bring a greater anxiety to their lives than if they had to do it on their own. However, it is God's intention to fill you with joy and peace in believing. Why not let Him?
You can be filled with JOY in believing:
- Joy is a grace of God that is freely given to those who are in relationship with Him. This is the "calm delight" of God that was present in the life of Jesus. This joy allows us to be cheerful rather than concerned. We get to be happy rather than anxious. The fruit of the Spirit is joy. Let Him encourage you as you trust in God.
You can be filled with PEACE in believing:
- This is another wonderful attribute of God that we get to experience. The peace of God brings a quietness to our spirit, a stillness to our soul, and allows us to function out of rest. The peace of God keeps us out of a place of striving. We become totally secure in the heart of God for us. Regardless of the situation or circumstance, we can enjoy the peace of God.
In this way you are able to abound in HOPE:
- The Holy Spirit providing peace and joy to your life allows the hope that is in you (which is Christ in you the hope of glory) to increase. You can become the most hopeful individual in the world. Living with a sense of hopefulness keeps you from operating out of helplessness. Allow the Lord to be your all in all. He is the God of all hope. You are actually able to partake of His nature when you live in faith.
Today is a perfect day to be reminded of the hope that we have in our Heavenly Father. I thought about blogging about the recent Supreme Court ruling on "Obamacare" but didn't want to depress you. I wanted to turn your attention away from every earthly model of government and place your attention upon God's government of goodness and love. He is the one who will sustain you. He is the one who is able to fill you with joy and peace in believing. He is committed to enabling you to walk in the same faith that His Son enjoyed while on this earth. That's right...you get the same ABUNDANT LIFE, the same JOY, and the same PEACE.
Draw from Him today and every day. Never allow your circumstances to dictate how you feel. Allow your faith in God to rule and reign in your heart. You will be glad you did.
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